A Chase Film Pre-Production – Master Multimedia

Pre-production is the planning stage of your project. The better job you do of planning, the better your project will turn out.

Project Set-Up

1. When your team first meets, decide who will be the producer of your film. The producer will guide your team meetings and make all final decisions about the film’s pre-production and production stages. If, in the course of your team’s project the producer needs to be replaced, ask the teacher to join your breakout room to discuss the issue.
2. Each member of your team needs to create a project folder within your class Google Drive Folder. Name the folder Chase.

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Basic Plot

1. If you are the producer, create a new Google Doc.
A. Name the Google Doc Chase-plot-NameF-NameF-NameF (etc.) and replace NameF with each member of your team’s last name and the first letter of their first name. For example: Chase-plot-ShoeJ-ClothT-BookR-DoverB-MouseM-DuckD
B. Save the Chase-plot Google Doc in your Chase project folder.
C. Share the Google Doc with each other member of your team, giving them Viewer rights.

2. As a team, brainstorm ideas to create a basic plot for your film:
One person starts chasing another for some reason. Since your team members will be in different locations, think of scene settings that may be similar to ones available for everyone. For example: a street; a park; a living room; a kitchen; etc. You need at least two of your team members to have a similar setting to include as one of the locations for your film.

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The Synopsis

1. Once you have decided upon the basic plot, type in your Chase-plot Google Doc the full names of each member of your team, indicating who the producer is.

2. Next, type the synopsis of your story divided into three acts. (Only describe what we see)

Act 1 – The set-up (why the chase begins)
– One paragraph (4 sentences)
Describe the setting. Identify each character by name and briefly describe their appearance. Describe what happens to make one character leave the scene, and another character run after them. If a prop is involved clearly describe what it is and how it is used.

NOTE — Make sure each character is easily identified by their clothing: One should be in light colored clothing; one should be in dark colored clothing. At least half of your team should have an outfit that is light colored and similar to what other team members have available. At least half of your team should have an outfit that is dark colored and similar to what other team members have available.

Act 2 – The chase (the main action)
– One paragraph (4 or 5 sentences)
Each sentence will describe one scene. For each scene describe a location and how one character enters, then leaves; followed by another character entering and leaving. Include anything that interferes with a character’s run.

Act 3 – The confrontation and resolution (what happens at the end)
– One paragraph (4 sentences)
Describe the setting and why one the chaser catches up to the chasee. Describe what happens as the chasee is confronted.

NOTE — The total number of scenes for your film is based upon how many people in your team:
If there are six people on your team, your film will have six scenes:
Act 1 (Scene 1), Act 2 (Scenes 2, 3, 4 & 5), Act 3 (Scene 6)
If there are seven people on your team, your film will have seven scenes:
Act 1 (Scene 1), Act 2 (Scenes 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6), Act 3 (Scene 7)

3. Number your synopsis scenes.
A. Scene 1 = Act 1
B. Each location in Act II is a scene.(Scene 2, Scene 3, Scene 4, etc.)
C. Act III is the last scene number.

4. Get your synopsis approved by the teacher.

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The Storyboard

1. If you are the producer, create a copy of the Google Slides Storyboard Template.
A. Move the copy into your Chase project folder.
B. Name the Google Slide Show Chase-storyboard-NameF-NameF-NameF (etc.) and replace NameF with each member of your team’s last name and the first letter of their first name.
For example: Chase-storyboard-ShoeJ-ClothT-BookR-DoverB-MouseM-DuckD
C. Share the Google Slide Show with each other member of your team, giving them Edit rights.

2. As a team, decide which team member will be which character in which scene. Refer to your approved story synopsis. Divide up the scenes so each team member appears in two scenes.

3. Assign storyboard frames to team members:
A. The people in Act 1 will create the storyboard frames for Act 1.
B. Most of the scenes in Act 2 will have only one frame. Some may have two or three. Assign these frames as evenly as possible to team members not working on Act 1 or Act 3 frames.
C. The people in Act 3 will create the storyboard frames for Act 3.

4. Create the frames for your assigned scenes.
For each scene you are in, work with a family member to take photos to use in the storyboard frames assigned to you.
A. Act 1 needs a wide shot; a close up of the chaser; a close-up of the chasee; a close-up of the key prop; and any other necessary detail shots.
B. Act 2 scenes each have a wide shot. If the scene has something that interferes with the chase, a close-up frame should be added showing the important detail.
C. Act 3 needs a wide shot, a close up of the chaser; a close-up of the chasee; and one or more frames showing important details, such as a prop or important action.

5. Create the Google Slide Show.
A. For each frame assigned to you, add a slide to the Slide Show.
B. Paste an appropriate photo on each frame you have added.
C. In the speaker notes for each frame, add:
i. The Scene #.
ii. The camera angle type.
iii. Words from your approved synopsis that describe what is happening.

6. Scene Numbering
Your storyboard frames should be numbered similar to how film slates identify camera shots.
A. The first frame for a scene should be a wide shot that shows everything in the scene. This wide shot is identified by the scene number. For example, Scene 1.
B. Additional frames show details, similar to different camera set-ups when filming a scene. Each of these detail frames uses the same scene number followed by a letter. For example: Scene 1A, Scene 1B, etc.
C. Because two people from your team will be creating frames for the same scene, add the character’s name following each scene name.

7. Sample Storyboard

Click here to see a storyboard for the first two scenes in sample chase film. Please note this example uses stick-figure drawings instead of photos. Your storyboard needs to use photos of the actual locations, actor, props and wardrobe that will be used when your scenes are recorded.

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